Apple execs use annual shareholder meeting to tout green achievements

Apple shareholders this week rejected two proposals that would have forced the company to add superfluous layers of bureaucracy to the company's already-effective sustainability efforts.

As reported by Macworld, shareholders rejected two separate proposals: one that would have forced the company to prepare a sustainability report on its environmental policies and efforts, and another to establish a board-of-directors sustainability committee.

These sorts of proposals might make sense for a company with a shabby environmental track record -- or even one that keeps mum about its success in the realm of sustainability. But as I wrote last month, Apple has an admirable green track record and has been neither shy nor secretive about reporting its efforts.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs told attendees at the shareholder meeting that the company's sustainability efforts weren't just good for the environment, but also the bottom line. He noted, for example, that by decreasing the size of the company's product boxes, the company has managed to reduce annual 747 cargo flights by the hundreds.